right now DrIFT derives NHC type binary instances, I actually modified a version to work with GHC but I just use it internally since among other things it uses zlib (via libz and the FFI) to compress its output too and is optimized for dumping and reading an entire structure from a single file so is less general purpose than the current Binary library. I will definatly accept any modifications/new derivation rules anyone has. I regularly use it to dump and read data files many megabytes in size after binary compression then zlib compression. takes a fare bit of RAM for the raw haskell representations though. John On Thu, Nov 14, 2002 at 05:39:10PM +0000, C.Reinke wrote:
There's been mention of a Binary module; .. That said, there was also a post about using plain text. I tend to agree, except for certain cases. However, that is *not* to say that you should necessarily use Show/Read.
| Actually, "deriving binary" would be a nice thing to have in general | - even more, a way to add your own "deriving" things from within | Haskell, although I have no idea how such a thing would work.
In this context, DrIFT should be mentioned:
http://www.haskell.org/communities/11-2002/html/report.html#sect5.2.1.1
http://repetae.net/john/computer/haskell/DrIFT/
Binary is already supported, I think (what about the new Binary variants?), but adding new instance derivation rules for your own external formats shouldn't be too difficult. So nobody has to stick to Show/Read for convenience reasons if there are other arguments against (such as those listed by Hal).
Claus
PS The Haskell ATerm Library might also be relevant?
http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/haskell/2002-May/009589.html
(the jDrift mentioned there is subsumed by the upcoming Drift2.0, merging various previous versions) _______________________________________________ Haskell-Cafe mailing list Haskell-Cafe@haskell.org http://www.haskell.org/mailman/listinfo/haskell-cafe
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